HELP CURE ADDICTIONS

September marks the 14th annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug
Addiction Recovery Month. It is a fitting time to dedicate ourselves to
encouraging alcohol and drug addiction treatment for all those in need,
including the millions of Americans who have co-occurring substance abuse and
mental disorders. Treatment is effective, and recovery is possible.

A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared
treatment for drug dependence, including alcohol, with Type 2 diabetes
mellitus, hypertension and asthma. The study concluded that medical adherence
and relapse rates are similar across these illnesses.

Drug dependence generally has been treated as if it were an acute illness.
Review results suggest that long-term care strategies of medication management
and continued monitoring produce lasting benefits. Drug dependence should be
insured, treated and evaluated, just like other chronic illnesses.

Everyone is invited to join our local efforts to celebrate addiction recovery
and health -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, on Belle Isle. Area high school bands
will kick the festivities off. Dignitaries will speak. People who have
recovered from alcohol and drug addiction will share their stories. A picnic
with games and entertainment will keep the celebration rolling.

By supporting treatment for those in need, we can help men, women and youths in
our own communities find their way to recovery. Randy O'Brien Director Macomb
County Community Mental Health/Office of Substance Abuse Mt. Clemens Still
waiting for wins

I found the year-to-date win/loss record for the Tigers 3-year run at Comerica
Park cited in Tom Walsh's Sept. 9 column, "Suite deals at the ballpark," to be
quite interesting. That would give the Tigers a .378 CoPa lifetime record,
which is still squarely behind the second-worst team in baseball this year,
Tampa Bay.

Give us a new ballpark, and we'll build a winning team. Isn't that what team
owner Mike Ilitch said?

Carl Allison

Detroit